Releasable trolling weight

ABSTRACT

A strike and pull responsive drop line fastening and automatic releasing device wherein an upper end of a weighted drop line is retentively but releasably and slidingly oriented with a predetermined portion of the trolling line comprising a one piece non-corrodible adaptor characterized by a median body portion having an open ended passage for the trolling line threaded therethrough. A complemental spindle is integrally joined with an upper part of the body portion and forms an upper lever arm around which are wound a few turns of the line. A companion shank is joined with a bottom side of the body portion and forms a lower lever arm to which the drop line is releasably attached. A bridle-like guard is pivotally mounted on the body portion and includes a line receiving eye and upstanding plates which engage the sides of the upper lever arm and prevent unwinding of the line from the spindle when the guard is in closed position.

United States Patent 1 Ware, Jr.

[ 51 Jan. 16,1973

[54] RELEASABLE TROLLING WEIGHT [76] Inventor: Richard S. Ware, Jr.,5001 Seminary Road, Apt. 1600, Alexandria, Va. 22311 [22] Filed: Nov. 4,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 195,715

[52] U.S. Cl 43/4111, 43/4488 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 93/00, AOlk 95/00[58] Field of Search ..43/44.88, 43.15, 43.11

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,192 1/1934 Semar..43/44.88 2,536,414 1/1951 Beard... ..43/43.ll 2,596,269 5/1952 Metzger..43/43.11 2,760,295 8/1956 Bond ..43/43.1 1

Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. LeachAttorney-Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A strike and pull responsivedrop line fastening and automatic releasing device wherein an upper endof a weighted drop line is retentively but releasably and slidinglyoriented with a predetermined portion of the trolling line comprising aone piece non-corrodible adaptor characterized by a median body portionhaving an open ended passage for the trolling line threadedtherethrough. A complemental spindle is integrally joined with an upperpart of the body portion and forms an upper lever arm around which arewound a few turns of the line. A companion shank is i joined with abottom side of the body portion and forms a lower lever arm to which thedrop line is releasably attached. A bridle-like guard is pivotallymounted on the body portion and includes a line receiving eye andupstanding plates which engage the sides of the upper lever arm andprevent unwinding of the line from the spindle when the guard is inclosed position.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures RELEASABLE TROLLING WEIGHT The presentinvention relates to line attached angling devices such as are expresslydesigned and adapted to retentively but slidingly connect an upper endof a sinker-weighted drop line with a predetermined portion of atrolling line and has to do, more particularly, with an adaptation whichfunctions to set and retain the drop line and its sinker in a givenposition but functions to automatically release on the strike of a fish.

. Persons conversant with the field of invention to which the hereindisclosed concept relates are aware than when trolling for certain typesof fish it is common practice to affix a weight on the trolling linefifteen to thirty feet ahead of the locale of the lure. This poses aproblem when retrieving a fish due to the fact that the fixedly attachedweight constitutes a stop, with the result that the line between theweight and the fish must be pulled in by hand. This takes much of thefun out of fighting the fish close in. It is an object of the presentinvention, generally stated, to provide automatic release means, thatis, means which functions to release the weighted drop line from atemporarily set or fixed position on the trolling line by the strike orpull of a fish, thus permitting the fisherman to accomplish asatisfactory full retrieve.

Many and varied prior art devices have been devised with a view towardcoping with the stated problem but are thought to be complicated andlimited to a specific drag of the lure or size of the weight or aredesigned for on-the-line weights only.

Many prior patents could, but need not be cited here as indicative ofthe state of the art to which the present invention relates. The reader,if so desired, may refer to the Louis Semar releasable sinker covered inUS. Pat. 1,943,192 which has to do with the sinker connected to afishing line in an adjusted position with the sinker capable of beingreleased for sliding movement along the line when a pull is exerted onthe lure or bait.

An object of the present invention is to advance the art and, in sodoing, to provide a readily applicable and removable attachment which issuch in design and construction that it well serves the purpose forwhich it has been devised and experimentally and successfully used.

Briefly summarized the herein disclosed concept, construed from acombination standpoint, comprises a conventional trolling line having aforward portion which is cooperatively connectable with a fishing rod, alure, of any suitable type, carried by the rearward end portion of thetrolling line, a sinker, a drop line having a lower end secured to andfor supporting the sinker. Drop line attaching means is operativelysuspended in a set position on the trolling line, that is, forwardly ofthe locale ofthe lure and rearwardly of the tip of the aforementionedrod. The upper end of the drop line is con nected to the attachingmeans. The attaching means embodies a selfcontained component partherein set forth as a spindle around which a strike responsive portionof the trolling line is manually wound but releasably secured and fromwhich it is unwound and spooled off when the fish strikes, whereby toautomatically release the attaching means, the drop line, and sinkerfrom the normally set position on the trolling line.

As above revealed other and generally analogous devices with similarintent have been patented but as experience has shown have beendifficult to use, are complicated or limited to a specific drag of thelure or size of the weight or are expressly designed for on-thelineweights only. By contrast, the herein disclosed device is, as experiencehas shown, simple to use, uncomplicated in structured design andcapability, and through a lever arm principle, is adjustable fordifferent lure drags and weights while, at the same time, permitting anypractical type of sinker to be acceptably used.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, a pull responsive dropline attaching and releasing device is utilized and is characterized bya median body portion which has an open ended passage for that portionof the trolling line which is adapted to be threaded and passed throughthe passage. A companion spindle is integrally joined with an upper partof the body portion and pro vides an upper lever arm. A shank. is joinedwith an op posite side of the body portion and provides a complementallower lever arm. A bridle-like guard is pivotally mounted on the bodyportion. These two component parts may be made of non-corrodible metalbut it is within the purview of the invention to construct the parts outof high strength material.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 1

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing an end portion of a fishingrod, the trolling line cooperable therewith, a suitable lure on therearward or trailing end of the trolling line and the strike and pullresponsive drop line fastening and automatic releasing device in a setready-to-function but releasable position on that portion of thetrolling line with which it is functionally connectible.

FIG. 2 is a view which is based on FIG. 1 and which shows the device onan appropriately enlarged scale and in a manner to bring out theconstructional and oriented relationship of the pull responsive dropline attaching means and how such means is constructed and used, forexample, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view also in side elevation and which is based on FIG. 2 andwherein the drop line attaching device is tilted to a releasableposition with the line spooling off the headed spindle and the pivotedguard tripped to the position shown.

FIG. 4 is a view similar in a manner of speaking to FIG. 2 but showingthe released position of the overall attaching and releasing means inits slidable position.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the overall device by itself.

Referring now to the views of the drawing singly and collectively andwith particular reference to FIG. I it will be evident that the trollingline, which is conventional, is denoted by the numeral 8, said linehaving a forward portion 10 operatively connectible with the fishing rod12. An artificial lure of any suitable construction is provided as at 14and. embodies a fish hook 16. This lure, which may vary in constructionis appropriately connected as at 18 to the trailing or rearward endportion 20 of the trolling line. The aforementioned drop line isdesignated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 22, the same provided on its lowerend with a sinker 24 of any appropriate shape or design and of requisiteweight or mass. An upper end portion 26 of the drop line is connected toa swivel 28 embodying a readily attachable and detachable fastener 30.

It is the two-part means which is of the essence here and which, becauseof its uniqueness in construction and capability is deemed to be aninnovation. In practice this means is operatively suspended in a setposition on the trolling line forwardly of the lure and rearwardly ofthe tip of the rod. The upper end of the drop line, more particularlythe fastener 30, is detachably and adjustably connectible with theattaching means, that is a component part thereof. Broadly thisattaching means embodies and features a self-contained spindle aroundwhich a strike responsive portion of the trolling line is manually woundbut releasably secured and from which it is unwound and spooled off whena fish strikes to, in this manner, automatically release the attachingmeans, drop line, and sinker from the normally set position shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. A principal part of this means is herein referred to as aspindle, also constitutes a one piece adaptor, and is designated by thenumeral 32. Specifically, it comprises a one piece unit and ischaracterized in part by an enlarged body portion 34. This body portionis provided with an open ended passage 36 for that portion 38 of thetrolling line which is adapted to be threaded and passed therethrough.The aforementioned spindle portion comprises a requisite neck 40 whichis integrally joined with the upper part of the body portion and whichterminates at its upper end in an appropriately enlarged head 42. Ashank 44 has its upper end joined with an opposite bottom side of thebody portion and is of requisite length and weight as well as shape andis provided with a row of holes 46 to permit detachable and adjustableconnection of the aforementioned fastener 30 thereto as shown in theviews of the drawings. This shank has its axis generally in alignmentwith the axis of the spindle portion but the configuration may bevaried. For convenience of reference here the body portion inconjunction with the headed spindle portion constitutes a lever arm Aoriented and coordinating with a lower lever arm B (FIG. with the bodyportion fulcrumming generally about a fulcrum point C.

The companion or complemental component part of the overall device isdesignated, broadly stated, as a pivoted guard 48. In practice the guardmay vary in construction. However, and as shown it comprises a one piecebridle, that is, a bridle construction which embodies a substantiallyU-shaped yoke whose curvate arms 50 straddle diametrically oppositesides of the body portion and have apertured terminal ends 52 (see FIG.5) which constitute journals and are journalled for angular rotation onpins or projections 54 provided therefor on diametrically opposite sidesof the body portion 34. The median bight portion of the yoke is providedwith an integral line guide eye 56 and the arms 50 each have anappropriately curved plate 58 the free upper corner 60 of which overliesand lightly engages opposite side surfaces 62 provided therefor on thehead of the aforementioned spindle portion. The upward force exerted byline 8 on the pivoted guard 48 keeps the guard in closed position. Also,the curved edges of the plates 58 function as a weed guard to preventweeds from collecting on the head and neck of the spindle which wouldadversely affect operation of the device.

In the vertical position (FIGS. 1 and 2) the force produced by the massand drag of the sinker on the lower arm B must equal or exceed the forceproduced by the drag of the lure action on the lever arm A to equalizeand maintain the device in a near vertical position thereby preventingtumbling which would produce twist in the line. It may be noted that thelength of the lever arm B is adjustable, making it. possible to adjustfor different weights in relation to lure forces. Although the length ofthe drop line is predicated on keeping the lure a constant distanceabove the bottom by bumping" the sinker along the bottom, a short dropline can be employed and the device used in the same fashion as an online sinker where lure depth above bottom is not a factor. When a fishis hooked, the force of the strike or pull of the fish will cause theforce acting through the lever arm A to exceed the force of the weightacting through the lever arm B.

The adaptor attaching device 32 will assume the inclined releasedposition toward the lure and will permit the line to unwind, that is,the portion 9 of the line which has been wound around the neck 40, thusfreeing the device for sliding in manner evident in FIG. 4.

The device is rigged as follows: The trolling line is passed firstthrough the hole 56 in the guard, then through the hole 36 in thespindle and the lure is attached. Normally a short wire leader withswivel (not shown) is used ahead of the lure. The weight on the dropline is then attached by swivel to the lower arm of the spindle.

To use, the fisherman holds the device and strips out the line until thetrolled bait is the desired distance behind the sinker and then connectsthe line to the neck by making a number of turns around the headed neck40 of the spindle portion. The device with the weight is then loweredinto the water and the line is payed out to the desired trollingdistance. The guard (FIG. I) keeps the line from unwinding when theweight is lowered by holding line 8 and the lines are inready-to-function position.

A careful consideration of the views of the drawing in conjunction withthe specifications will suffice to provide a comprehensive understandingof the invention and features and advantages. Accordingly, a moreextended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a trolling line having a forward portion operativelyconnectible with a fishing rod, a lure carried by the rearward endportion of said trolling line, a sinker, a drop line having a lower endsecured to and for supporting said sinker, drop line attaching meansoperatively suspended in a predetermined set position on said trollingline forwardly of the lure and rearwardly of the tip of said rod, theupper end of said drop line being connected to said attaching means, andsaid attaching means embodying a body portion having an open-ended boreextending therethrough and providing a passage through which an orientedportion of said trolling line is threaded and a self-contained spindlearound which a strike-responsive portion of said trolling line ismanually wound and from which it is unwound and spooled off when a fishstrikes, whereby to automatically release said attaching means, dropline, and sinker from said set position.

2. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein saidupper end of said drop line is detachably, adjustably and swivellyconnected to said attaching means.

3. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein'saidspindle comprises a neck having an enlarged line retaining head on anupper end thereof.

4. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein saidbody portion is provided with a depending shank, the upper end of saiddrop line being detachably, adjustably, and swivelly connected to aselected leverage varying portion of said shank.

5. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and abridle-like guard mounted on said body portion, said guard having an eyethrough which a portion of said trolling line is slidingly threaded andalso having upstanding guard plates having free terminal ends overlyingthe side portions of the spindle when the guard is in closed positiondue to the upward force exerted thereon by tension on the trolling line,the edges of said plate being curved to act as a weed guard to preventweeds from collecting on the spindle.

6. For use in retentively but releasably connecting an upper end portionof a sinker-equipped drop line to a predetermined portion of a trollingline forwardly of the usual trailing lure, a pull responsive drop lineattaching and releasing device comprising in combination, a median bodyportion having an open-ended passage for that portion of the trollingline which is adapted to be threaded and passed therethrough, a spindleintegrally joined with an upper part of said body portion, said spindleproviding an upper lever arm, a shank joined with another portion. ofsaid body portion and providing a complemental lower lever arm, and abridle-like guard pivotally mounted on said body portion.

7. The drop line and releasing device defined in and according to claim6, and wherein said spindle com prises a neck having an enlarged headedupper end, said neck being adapted to permit a coordinating portion ofthe trolling line to be manually wound thereon for subsequent biteresponsive unwinding and releasmg.

8. The drop line attaching and releasing device defined in and accordingto claim 7, and wherein said bridle-like guard comprises a U-shaped yokehaving legs straddling and pivotally mounted on said body portion, aneye carried by the bight portion of the yoke and a plate on each leg ofthe yoke overlying the side portions of headed upper end of the neck forretaining the line wound on the neck when the guard is held in closedposition by the upward force exerted on the guard by the line extendinthroughthe eye.

9. The drop me a aching and releasing device defined in and according toclaim 8, and wherein said shank is oppositely arranged in relation tothe spindle, and means on said shank to which an upper end of said dropline can be detachably, swivelly and adjustably connected.

1. In combination, a trolling line having a forward portion operativelyconnectible with a fishing rod, a lure carried by the rearward endportion of said trolling line, a sinker, a drop line having a lower endsecured to and for supporting said sinker, drop line attaching meansoperatively suspended in a predetermined set position on said trollingline forwardly of the lure and rearwardly of the tip of said rod, theupper end of said drop line being connected to said attaching means, andsaid attaching means embodying a body portion having an open-ended boreextending therethrough and providing a passage through which an orientedportion of said trolling line is threaded and a selfcontained spindlearound which a strike-responsive portion of said trolling line ismanually wound and from which it is unwound and spooled off when a fishstrikes, whereby to automatically release said attaching means, dropline, and sinker from said set position.
 2. The combination defined inand according to claim 1, and wherein said upper end of said drop lineis detachably, adjustably and swivelly connected to said attachingmeans.
 3. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, andwherein said spindle comprises a neck having an enlarged line retaininghead on an upper end thereof.
 4. The combiNation defined in andaccording to claim 1, and wherein said body portion is provided with adepending shank, the upper end of said drop line being detachably,adjustably, and swivelly connected to a selected leverage varyingportion of said shank.
 5. The combination defined in and according toclaim 1, and a bridle-like guard mounted on said body portion, saidguard having an eye through which a portion of said trolling line isslidingly threaded and also having upstanding guard plates having freeterminal ends overlying the side portions of the spindle when the guardis in closed position due to the upward force exerted thereon by tensionon the trolling line, the edges of said plate being curved to act as aweed guard to prevent weeds from collecting on the spindle.
 6. For usein retentively but releasably connecting an upper end portion of asinker-equipped drop line to a predetermined portion of a trolling lineforwardly of the usual trailing lure, a pull responsive drop lineattaching and releasing device comprising in combination, a median bodyportion having an open-ended passage for that portion of the trollingline which is adapted to be threaded and passed therethrough, a spindleintegrally joined with an upper part of said body portion, said spindleproviding an upper lever arm, a shank joined with another portion ofsaid body portion and providing a complemental lower lever arm, and abridle-like guard pivotally mounted on said body portion.
 7. The dropline and releasing device defined in and according to claim 6, andwherein said spindle comprises a neck having an enlarged headed upperend, said neck being adapted to permit a coordinating portion of thetrolling line to be manually wound thereon for subsequent biteresponsive unwinding and releasing.
 8. The drop line attaching andreleasing device defined in and according to claim 7, and wherein saidbridle-like guard comprises a U-shaped yoke having legs straddling andpivotally mounted on said body portion, an eye carried by the bightportion of the yoke and a plate on each leg of the yoke overlying theside portions of headed upper end of the neck for retaining the linewound on the neck when the guard is held in closed position by theupward force exerted on the guard by the line extending through the eye.9. The drop line attaching and releasing device defined in and accordingto claim 8, and wherein said shank is oppositely arranged in relation tothe spindle, and means on said shank to which an upper end of said dropline can be detachably, swivelly and adjustably connected.